Canon I of the holy hierarch, in Tone VIII—

Exapostilarion—

Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a wonder, striking the sea in the form of the Cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot, chanting a hymn unto God.

Kontakion, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “To thee, the champion leader…”—

Sessional hymn, in Tone IV—

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “What shall we call you…”—

Theotokion: O fiery chariot who bore within thy womb the incarnate Word of God, beseech Him earnestly, that thy servants be saved who have recourse unto thee and chant to God a hymn of victory.

On the chariot of Thy grace bear our thoughts aloft from those things which are below to that which is on high, O Lord, and grant that we may praise thy favored one, the holy hierarch Alexis, who chanteth hymns to thee our God.

Irmos: O ye people, let us chant unto Christ God, Who wrought wondrous miracles in the midst of the Red Sea, for of old He caused armèd Israel to traverse the impassable on foot, and drowned Pharaoh, the worker of evil, in the depths.

Glory…: Another sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—

What shall we call thee, O holy hierarch Alexis? Star shining upon the earth, most honored adornment of the world, enlightening it with the rays of the precepts of the right Faith, and driving away the darkness of heresy. Pray thou, O venerable one, that those who celebrate thy memory with faith may be delivered from corruption and misfortunes. Twice

Theotokion: O Virgin Theotokos, thou radiant cloud who hast caused the Rain of heaven, the incarnate Word of God, to fall upon us: With the divinely flowing water of thy compassion quench thou the fiery flame of our harmful passions.

On the chariot of thy mediations carry aloft, from earthly things to that which is heavenly, our mind, which is weighed down by the griefs of life; and instruct us how to praise thee worthily, O father Alexis, who chanted unto God a hymn of victory.

Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven and Creator of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.

What shall we call thee, O venerable and holy hierarch Alexis? River pouring forth healings in abundance upon all who approach thee with faith; wellspring gushing forth mellifluous teachings spreading to all the ends of the earth and ­enlightening the faithful. Pray thou, O venerable one, that our souls be saved.

Theotokion: To thee, O all-pure one, did Gabriel announce that the Creator of the vault of heaven would be born of thee, crying: Rejoice, O Virgin! The Lord, Who alone loveth mankind, is with thee!

By thy humility thou didst surpass the chariot of the pride of this world, and, taking up thy cross, didst follow Christ in goodness; and, arriving at the haven of life on high, thou chantest unto God a hymn of victory.

Irmos: Let the vainglorious sage boast not, but let him consider this: There is none as holy as God, Who exalteth our horn, granting might to our rulers.

What now shall we call thee, O holy hierarch Alexis, thou all-wondrous worker of miracles? Wise physician who chargeth no fee, who healeth every affliction of soul and body and art the peer of the incorporeal ones. Pray thou, O venerable one, that our souls be saved.

Theotokion: Theologizing in the divinely created firmament of the Church of the apostles, we flee to thee, the radiant heaven of the never-waning Sun, crying: O most hymned Virgin, with thy heavenly aid help us who call thee blessed, that we may come to dwell in the mansions of heaven.

On the chariot of the virtues thou didst ascend to heaven, as Elijah did on the chariot of fire. Wherefore, entreat God, that He send down like a mantle the grace of the Spirit, which teacheth us to chant unto God a hymn of victory.

Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power; Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Glory…, in Tone VI—

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Canon II, the composition of Hieromonk Epiphanius Slavinitsky, a theologian who lived in the saint’s monastery, in Tone IV—

Irmos: Taught beforehand by a right eloquent voice, Habbakuk beheld the incarnation of the Word and cried aloud: I have heard the sound of the counsel of God! For God shall immutably hold converse with men, ­becoming incarnate of the Virgin’s womb, delivering the world from the primal curse!

O man of God, faithful servant and minister of the Lord, man of divine desires, chosen vessel, pillar and foundation of the Church, heir of Christ: Cease thou never to cry out for us to the Lord.

Theotokion: Thou art truly my strength and salvation, O Theotokos, and on thee have I set my hope. Save me, O pure Virgin, and strengthen me, that I may cry out to Him Who was born of thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

O divinely wise Alexis, thou golden lamp of the Church illumined in godly manner by the divinely radiant beams of the light of the three Hypostases, we entreat thee: With the radiant beams of thy supplications enlighten the minds of those who praise thee, that they may offer thee fitting laudation.

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

O Theotokos, thou art the true vine which hath budded forth for us the Fruit of life. Thee do we beseech: Pray thou, O Mistress, with the holy apostles, that our souls find mercy.

Theotokion: O Virgin Theotokos, thou golden ray of the never-waning Light, to thee do we flee, crying aloud: With the luminous radiance of thy defense dispel the dark cloud of our griefs.

O thrice blessed Alexis, thou earthly angel who dost emulate Christ, godly minded converser with the angels of heaven, divinely crowned vanquisher of the angels of hell, who wast vouchsafed to behold God incarnate, the Angel of great Counsel, we beseech thee: By thy God-inspired entreaties deliver us from the assaults of the soul-destroying hosts of hades.

Irmos: Enlighten the gloom of my soul, which is darkened by the mire of the passions which assail me at night, that I may rise early unto Thee Who alone art compassionate, and cut asunder the bonds of my debts, that, illumined by Thine equally eternal Spirit, I may find the incorrupt way of the righteousness of Thy precepts.

Theotokion: Wherefore do the billows of the passions bestorm me, O most immaculate Virgin who gavest birth to Christ the Helmsman? Beseech Him, that He rescue me therefrom and guide my steps to the ways of His commandments, I pray.

Drowning in the midst of a tempest of the bitter waters of soul-destroying transgressions, we flee unto thee, as to the right wondrous stiller of the raging sea, and cry aloud: O holy Alexis, by thy God-pleasing prayers still thou the tumultuous sea of our passions.

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.

Theotokion: O most immaculate Virgin, thou divinely planted vine who hast put forth the divinely planted Cluster, the incarnate Word of God, we entreat thee: With the fragrant wine of the grace of God give drink to our thirsty souls.

The Lord of the vault of heaven and all creation, knowing from of old that thou wouldst be a good pastor, O father Alexis, entrusted to thee His reason-endowed flock, in that He alone loveth mankind.

Irmos: Thou hast hearkened to the sound of my cry from the belly of hades, and hast brought me up from the corruption of the tempest of transgressions, O Good One. And as of old Thou didst lead Jonah up from corruption, O Lord, go Thou before me, I pray, and save me.

Theotokion: The Archangel Gabriel, perceiving thee to be purified by the Spirit, O most immaculate one, cried out to thee: “Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, thou restoration of the fallen and annulment of the curse!”

Loving the Creator of the vault of heaven, and having made thyself light by fasting, thou didst pass over the sea of the passions; and having ascended to the summit of dispassion by the virtues, thou didst behold God, Who alone loveth mankind.

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the youths who had come forth from Judæa trod down the flame of the furnace with their faith in the Trinity, chanting: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Theotokion: O Virgin Theotokos, who gavest birth to the incarnate Word of God, the almighty Stiller of the waves of the sea: By the celestial calm of thine aid still thou the most tempestuous tumult of our sorrows.

Having ascended to the heights of the vault of heaven by knowledge of God, thou didst there noetically behold ineffable things, and didst receive the gift of working miracles from God Who loveth mankind.

Irmos: The Assyrian flame, portraying Thee, O Lord, saved the three youths, just as the divine Spark did not consume the Virgin Maiden at Thy divine nativity. O all-hymned God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Theotokion: The children from Judæa prefigured thy birthgiving, O most pure Virgin; for the fire in the furnace did not consume them, who chanted: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

We entreat thee, the divinely wise helmsman who, with the heavenly steering of the Word of God didst pilot the ship of the Church of Russia straight to the right calm harbor of life everlasting; and we bless thee, saying: O most honored Alexis, guide thou our souls to the right fair stillness of repentance.

Irmos: The King of heaven, Whom the hosts of angels hymn, praise and exalt ye supremely for all ages!

Theotokion: O most immaculate Virgin, thou radiant moon illumined by the divinely effulgent Sun of righteousness, and revealed in a manner beyond the comprehension of the heavenly intelligences: With the bright radiance of thy grace enlighten our darkened hearts.

O thou who profitably kept the soul-saving commandment of the omnipotent Creator and by thy prayer stilled the stormy waves of the raging sea, by thy wondrous intercession still thou the raging storm of our tribulations.

Irmos: Emulating the children who entered the flame at the command of the iniquitous tyrant, let us cry aloud in praise, with lips never stilled: O Good One, Who art holy transcending nature, with Thy noetic light illumine those who hymn Thee!

Theotokion: O Virgin, thou gavest birth to the King of heaven, Whom the angels hymn and exalt supremely forever.

O right wondrous Alexis, thou river of God flowing with gold, who with the heavenly waters of the teaching of the Gospel abundantly watered the garden of the Church of Russia: with the stream of spiritual joy flowing from heaven give drink to our afflicted souls.

Irmos: Saved by thee, O pure Virgin, we confess thee to be in truth the Theotokos, magnifying thee with the incorporeal choirs.

Theotokion: O most hymned Virgin Theotokos, who truly gavest birth, in manner past the recounting of man, to everlasting Life, the incarnate Word of God, we beseech thee: Deliver us, thy servants, from everlasting death.

In God-pleasing manner, with the divinely inspired shepherd’s staff of correction thou didst, as a good pastor, guide to the straight path of salvation the reason-endowed flock of Christ, which had grazed on the fragrant pasturage of the Word of God; and thou wast counted worthy to receive the incorrupt reward of life everlasting from Christ God, the Chief Shepherd, in the heavenly Sion. Him do thou beseech, O right wondrous Alexis, that we, thy rational sheep, may be preserved from the ravening invisible wolves.

Irmos: In thee, O Theotokos, hath our degradation come to an end; for, having received the invisible Word within thy womb, thou gavest birth to Him as a both God and man, though the cherubim dare not gaze upon Him. Wherefore, we magnify thee, O all-pure one.

Theotokion: Thou art truly the salvation of Christians; for thou gavest birth to Christ, Who saveth us who magnify thee as the pure Virgin.

Thy sacred head was anointed by the divine Spirit, O hierarch Alexis, and grace descended abundantly upon thee, and remained like myrrh upon thy head, running down as upon the beard of Aaron, descending like the dew of Hermon, bedewing with drops of thy benefactions those who have recourse to thy relics and cry out earnestly unto thee: O venerable father, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who honor thy holy memory as is meet.

Theotokion: O most holy Virgin, thou bush unconsumed, which Moses the God-beholder saw on Sinai, who gavest birth to the incarnate Word of God: with the heavenly fire of the love of God melt thou our frozen hearts.

Mystically pondering in mind that which was commanded, the incorporeal one presented himself without delay in the house of Joseph, and said unto her who knew not wedlock: “He Who bowed the heavens down by His descent shall be immutably contained wholly within thy womb! And beholding Him assuming the guise of a servant in thy womb, I am afraid to cry to thee: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded!”

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

“Thou art my strength, O Lord! Thou art my power!”, thou didst cry, O father Alexis. And thou didst receive the gift of healing bodily infirmities and dispelling evil spirits from those who cry out to Christ: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Thou art the beacon of the land of Russia and the impregnable rampart of the city of Moscow, the vanquisher of their enemies, and an ally in battle for all Orthodox Christians who cry out to Christ: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Thou didst theologize concerning the uncreated Unity which existeth in three Persons, unconfused and indivisible, O father Alexis, teaching thy flock to cry out unceasingly: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

O right wondrous Alexis, thou divinely wise fisherman who with godly success didst catch an incalculable multitude of fish with the divinely fashioned net of the direction of thy wise humility, with the divinely wrought hook of thine intercession draw us forth from the deep abyss of manifold evils.

O right wondrous Alexis, thou healer who exacteth no fee, who with the heavenly salve of the word of God didst treat the soul-corrupting sores of the people’s falls into sin, and didst cure their maddening wounds with the divinely prepared poultice of thy meek correction, we beseech thee: Heal thou the stripes of our sins, which harm our souls.

O most honored Alexis, thou right fruitful tree of the garden planted by God, who hast produced the fragrant fruits of right laudable corrections and lifted up to heaven the fruit-laden branches of thine entreaties which are hearkened to by God, we implore thee: With the godly growth of the leaves of thy protection shelter us from the harmful heat of cruel misfortunes.

Wherefore have the adversary arrayed themselves against us who have thee as a mighty champion? O father Alexis, cast down their audacity, and by thy supplication show forth all Orthodox Christians as fearsome to them.

Wherefore are we despondent, weighed down with a multitude of griefs, while we have as the consoler of our sorrows the holy hierarch Alexis, who delivereth us from our misfortunes and tribulations, from enemies visible and invisible?

Wherefore do bodily infirmities assail us and misfortunes surround us who have thee, O father Alexis, as a physician amid our ailments and a comforter amid sorrows? Therefore, rescue us from them by thy supplications.

O most blessed Alexis, thou good shepherd who in God-pleasing manner fed the reason-endowed flock of Christ on the fragrant verdure of the teaching of the Gospel and didst guide them divinely to the straight path of the life of the emulation of Christ, we entreat thee: By thy supplications guide us to the straight path of the commandments of God.

O divinely wise father Alexis, thou divinely wrought vessel of the Holy Spirit, in godly splendor covered over with the pure gold of the love of God, who abundantly enrichest thy children with the purified silver of the word of God, we beseech thee: By thy supplications grant us the heavenly riches of the grace of God.

O sacred leader Alexis, divinely wise mind, member of the godly choir of the heavenly intelligences, illumined in godly manner with the divinely radiant rays of the light of the three Hypostases: with the heavenly beams of thy divinely revealed wisdom enlighten our darkened souls from on high.

Cleanse us of our many sins, O Savior, and by the supplications of Thy holy hierarch Alexis drive away our illnesses, and grant peace and unity to Thy Churches.

Cleanse our hearts and thoughts by thy mediations, O father, and, accepting the prayers directed to thee by us, ask of Christ that He show us great mercy.

Having cleansed thy heart and sharpened the pen of thy tongue with the Spirit, O father Alexis, by thy teachings thou didst inscribe the word of divine knowledge upon the hearts of the faithful.

O most blessed Alexis, thou golden star of Russia who hast splendidly illumined the divinely wrought firmament of the Church of God with the bright beams of thine apostolic corrections and with godly success hast dispelled the gloomy darkness of the assaults of the barbarians: dispel the dark cloud of the assaults of the enemy.

O God-bearing Alexis, thou noetic temple of God, who with divine zeal erected material temples of God to the majestic glory of the immaterial God, we beseech thee: By thy God-pleasing entreaties fashion our hearts into temples of God fit for His dwelling.

O most wondrous Alexis, thou right fruitful root of a heavenly tree, who uprooted the pernicious thorns of prideful pretension and with godly success didst plant the goodly saplings of humble-minded contemplation of God: Plant thou in our hearts the divinely growing root of God-pleasing humility.

O all ye people, hymning with faith the new wonder-worker Alexis, the godly and all-­honorable hierarch of Christ, let us bless him with love, as a great pastor, an all-wise minister and teacher of the land of Russia. And hastening today to his memorial, let us joyfully give utterance to a hymn to the God-bearer: As thou hast boldness before God, deliver us from all manner of evil circumstances, that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O confirmation of our city!

Ikos: Beholding the miracles of the wondrous and all-honorable wonder-worker, who granteth healing to all who with all their soul have recourse unto him with faith, who invisibly visiteth the people of Christ and illumineth the Russian land, joyously assembling before the shrine of his relics with all our soul, beholding and hearing of the multitude of his miracles and the inexhaustible wellspring of his healings, and with all our soul offering the fruits of the virtues like sweet-smelling incense, with pure heart and enlightened minds, rejoicing let us cry unto him, saying: Rejoice, O honored father, our teacher, for thou hast received the reward of thy labors, and dwellest in the highest, entreating in our behalf God Who loveth mankind! Thou hast received the gift of working miracles, and art the father and teacher of the land of Russia, the excellent boast of hierarchs, and the mighty ally of all Orthodox Christians. Rejoice, O holy hierarch Alexis, thou confirmation of our city!

Emulating the children from Judæa, thou didst utterly consume the fiery passions, O blessed Alexis, ever chanting unto Christ: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Thou didst emulate the children from Judæa; for, illumined by the grace of the Spirit which abode in thee, thou didst chant unto Christ: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

We emulate the children from Judæa, beholding thy relics pouring forth miracles, and afire with love for Christ, we cry: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

O hierarch Alexis, thou physician who exactest no fee, we earnestly beseech thee, as one who freely received the gift of healing from the heavenly Physician, and thus hast freely healed the harmful wounds of those who have recourse unto thee: With the heavenly treatment of thine entreaties heal thou the grievous infirmities of our souls and bodies.

O most praised Alexis, thou divinely woven robe of Orthodox piety, adorned in godly manner with the priceless pearls of the greatest of virtues: Entreat God Who arrayeth Himself in light, that our souls may be clad in the splendid robe of life everlasting.

O holy Alexis, tireless laborer in the garden established by God, who hast planted the fragrant cassia of right wondrous corrections, and hast rooted the divinely growing myrrh of ascetic temperance in thy God-loving heart: Pour forth the heavenly stacte of thy defense upon the hearts of us who love thee.

Thou didst teach thy flock to praise the King of heaven, crying: Hymn Christ and exalt Him supremely forever!

Entreat the King of heaven in behalf of us, thy children, who joyously hymn and exalt Him supremely forever.

Standing before the King of heaven, look down upon thy flock, who hymn and exalt Christ supremely forever.

O most blessed Alexis, thou divinely wise healer of infirmities of body and soul, who supernaturally healed the bodily blindness of the barbarian queen with the heavenly cure of thy God-pleasing prayer, we entreat thee: Heal thou the spiritual blindness of our pernicious transgressions.

O most honored Alexis, thou adornment of the Church, all-sanctified head, unshakable pillar of piety, foundation of the Faith established by God, inexhaustible abyss of divine wonders: with the gold-bearing waters of thine entreaties quench thou the ruinous fire of our griefs.

Having in God-pleasing manner burned up the pernicious weeds of sinful falls with the divine fire of the love of God, and reverently approached the immaterial and supernatural fire of the life-creating Trinity with the godly tread of faith, O venerable father Alexis, from the fire of Gehenna deliver the souls of thy children, who call thee blessed.

Thou hast truly been shown forth to the world as a light radiant with the virtues, and becamest an excellent shepherd for thy flock, magnifying Christ.

O father, we truly know thee to be a great wonder-worker who pourest forth many miracles upon those who have recourse unto thee with faith and magnify Christ.

Kings and hierarchs, and all the people truly celebrate the memorial of the holy hierarch Alexis with splendor, magnifying Christ God.

O most honored Alexis, first enthroned hierarch who with godly splendor adorned thy divinely established cathedra with the right comely beauty of hierarchal corrections: Entreat God Who sitteth upon the heavenly thrones, that we who bless thee may be counted worthy to stand before the throne of God in the kingdom of heaven.

Eagerly hastening to thy wonder-working relics, O right wondrous Alexis, thou wellspring of miracles, we beseech thee: With the divinely flowing stream of thy divine wonders quench the burning crucible of our tribulations and griefs.

With sovereign peace defend all Orthodox Christians from every misfortune, O most blessed Alexis, primatial hierarch, thou divinely wrought shield of Orthodoxy; and from on high grant help to our pious bishops, for the good estate of the Churches of God.

The grace of the Holy Spirit dwelling within thee showed thee forth as a hierarch; and Christ entrusted His flock to thee, to nurture them on the pastures of the Spirit; and for His sake thou didst strive to instruct the people, and now dwellest, rejoicing, in the heavens. Twice

Having thee as our hope after God, O all-pure Theotokos, we beseech thee: By thine entreaties to Him Who was born of thee preserve us unharmed until the end.

Great Doxology. Troparion. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.